Coin depository fo associated parking meters



I Nov. 18, 1947. H. P. COMPTON 2, 31,229

COIN DEPOSITORY FOR ASSOCIATED PARKING METERS Filed June 23, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FOR 7 HOUR EX T/PA T/ME DEPOSIT Patented Nov. 18, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIN DEPOSITORY FOR ASSOCIATED PARKING; METERS Henry P. Compton, Abilene, Tex.

Application June 23, 1947, .SerialNo. 756,491

Serial No. 689,875, filed August 12, 1946, for a Parking meter.

An object of this invention is to provide a coin depository for use in association with parking meters, which will permit a motorist after first depositing a coin in the parking meter to deposit additional coins so that an authorized personmay subsequently remove one of such additional coins for deposit into the meter in order that additional parking time may be obtained without violation of the parking regulations.

In meters at present used for authorized parking along curbs, the deposit of a nickel will actuate the meter for a predetermined time period, and in the event the vehicle is to be parked for a longer period than authorized, the motorist must deposit a second or further coin which requires a return visit to the vehicle. If this return visit is delayed and an ofiicer notices the excess parking time, the motorist is subject to a parking fine. The coin depository herein disclosed is designed to eliminate the necessity of a return visit by the motorist, by permitting the motorist to deposit two additional coins in the depository. When the officer notes that the first parking period has expired, he will look at the coin depository tosee if the motorist has deposited two more coins for the privilege of parking a double time, and will then insert a key into the depository. Upon insertion of a key in the depository, one of the coins will be discharged into the hand of the ofiicer, and the other coin will drop into the coin receiver or chamber in the depository. The discharged coin will then be deposited into the meter by the officer so as to thereby give the motorist an additional parking period without violation of the parking regulations but at double the cost of the first parking period.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a coin deposit box constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, of the coin box with the rear wall removed,

Figure 3 is a vertical section, partly broken away, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure '5 is a rear elevation of the coin box, partly broken'away and partly in section,

Figure 6 is afront elevation of the sliding plate removed irom the box,

Figure 7' is a fragmentary detail section taken onthe line l--'! of Figure 2,

Figurefl is a fragmentary section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 15 designates generally a coin box or depository for use with a parking meter-or the like, whereby a surficient number of coins may be deposited in this box, certain of them removable for depositing in the parking meter.

A-coin box [0 is so constructed and arranged that two coins of the same denomination may be inserted in thebox and upon moving of the sliding plate by an authorized person, one of the coins will be released from'the box ill for subsequent insertion into the parking meter, and the other coin will be retained within the box i6.

' The coin box 10 is formed with a U-shaped or concavo-convex body H, havingside walls l2 and a front wall I4. The rear wall will be formed by a plate fixed on the standard I5 of the parking meter. The body H is adapted to be fixed to the standard l5 by a clamp 16 fixed to or formed on the lower end of the 'box [0, or other suitable fastening means.

The front Wall [4 of the box I l is provided with a pair of openings I-l through which coins may be deposited. A shield or;partial cover 18 is formed on the front wall ll about the upper end of the opening i toprevent moisture or dirt, or foreign articles from falling into the opening H.

A pair of guide members as I!) and 20 are formed on the rear side of the front wall ll along the opposite edges of the openings H and extending downwardly therefrom. The guide members l9 and 20 are formed of elongated bars or projections as 2 I, which extend below theopenings I! a short distance so that a coin may be held therebetween. Other inspection openings as 22 are formed below each of the openings l1 and covered by a transparent material as glass or plastic 24.

The windows 22 are provided for exposing the deposited coins While they are retained within the guide members [9 and 20. The box H is further formed with an opening as 25 through the side wall [2 below one of the guide members as 20 so that a coin may be removed therefrom.

Rabbeted channels as 26 are formed on the rear surface of the front wall I 4 and a sliding plate 3 21 is secured between the channels 26 on the opposite sides of the front wall l4. Retaining bars or plates 28 are fixed to the front wall M by securing means 29, and the plates 28 engage behind the sliding plate 21 for supporting the plate 2? slidably adjacent the front wall M. The sliding plate 27 is formed on its forward side with a pair of forwardly extending lug 30 which are adapted to engage within the guide means l9 and for holding a coin between the members 2| in the raised position of the plate 21.

When the plate 21 is lowered, the coin retaining lugs 30 are moved downwardly to a position shown in dotted lines as 3 in Figure 5, so that the coins may fall freely from the channels l9 and 20.

A coin chute as 32 is formed on the rear side of the front wall of the box below one of the guide members as 2D and is adapted to guide the coin from this one guide member downwardly through the opening 25 in one of the side walls I2. The chute 32 is formed with a downwardly and outwardl extending lower wall 34. In the raised position of the plate 21 the coin is retained in the guide member 20 and as the plate 27 is moved downwardly, the coin is released from the guide member 20 and will fall into the chute 32 which is in registry with the opening 25. The retaining lug 30 in the guide 20 will then partially block the side opening 25' for retaining the coin in the chute 32. Returning th plate 21 to its raised position will move the lug 3| to its raised position permitting the coin to be discharged from the chute 32 through the opening 24. The other coin in the guide member l9 in the lower position of the plate 2'1 is free to fall into the lower end of the box H).

For raising the plate 21, a cam 35 is rotatably supported in the front wall l4 and may be carried by the rotatable part of a lock 36. The cam 35 is adapted to engage with a cam follower 31 fixed to or formed on the lower end of the plate 2i. Upon rotation of the lock 36 and cam 35 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 2, the plate 2! will be raised. As the cam 35 is rotated clockwise, the weight of the plate 21 will cause it to slide downwardly into the coin releasing position.

The lock 36 is so constructed and arranged that the cam 35 will be locked in the raised position so that the plate 21 can be lowered only by the insertion of a key as 38 in the hands of a responsible person.

Since some coins are slightly misshapen after considerable use, and as the coin guides I9 and 29 are quite close fitting, it is possible that coins may become wedged in the guides. In order to clear the guides for each separate time the device is used, a dislodging lug 40 is fixed to or formed on the plate 21. The lug 48 is disposed immediately adjacent the upper edge of the openings ll between the guide members 2| in the raised position of the plate 21 and will move down to dislodge any coins wedged between the upper end of the guide members 2| as the plate 21 moves downwardly. The cam 35 engages the follower 3| as it is moved counter-clockwise to insure a positive downward force on the plate 21 for releasing the coins.

In the use and operation of this coin box, when the person parking his car desires to park for a longer period than that allowed by the use of one coin in the parking meter, he may place two more coins into the box ||l supported adjacent the parking meter. The extra coins will be seen through the openings 22 in the front wall of the box and when the first parking period has expired, a police officer having a key 38 may remove one from the box l0 by rotating the lock 36. This coin he will place in the parking meter for the added parking period and the other coin in the box will be retained therein. In this manner a second parking period may be had at a cost of twice the original parking fee.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A coin deposit receptacle having a front wallQsaid front Wall formed with a pair of similar coin openings therein, coin guide members fixed on the rear surface of said front wall adjacent said openings and extending therebelow, a sliding plate adjacent said front wall spaced therefrom by said guide members, coin retaining lugs fixed on said plate positioned between said guide members in the raised position of said plate for retaining coins therein and permitting the coins to fall therefrom in the lowered position of said plate, said receptacle formed with an opening therethrough below one of said coin openings, an operator for raising said plate, a coin chute below one of said retaining lugs, said chute registering with said latter opening, the shifting of said plate permitting the discharge of one coin from said receptacle, and the lodging of a second coin within said receptacle.

2. A coin deposit receptacle as set forth in claim, 1, wherein said coin chute is fixed on said housing.

3. A coin deposit receptacle as set forth in claim 1, including a lug on said sliding plate above the center of said coin openings in the raised position of said plate for dislodging a coin between the upper end of said guide members upon lowering of said plate.

4. A coin deposit receptacle having a front wall, said front wall formed with a pair of similar coin openings therein, coin guide members adjacent said openings and extending therebelow, a sliding plate adjacent said front wall spaced therefrom by said guide members, coin retaining lugs on said plate for cooperating with said guide members for retaining coins therein in the raised position of said plate and permitting the coins to fall therefrom in the lowered position, said receptacle formed with an opening therethrough below one of said coin openings, an operator for sliding said plate, a coin chute below one of said guide members, said chute registering with said latter opening, one of said retaining lugs being disposed for retaining a coin in the said chute in the lower position of said plate and permitting the discharge of the coin therefrom in the raised position.

HENRY P. COMPTON. 

